Eleven cases of typhoid in Tonga Featured
12 April, 2017. Health authorities in Tonga have temporarily banned kava drinking in public halls to control an outbreak of typhoid.
Eleven people have been diagnosed with the disease since January.
A woman died of the illness in New Zealand late last month, and there have been 18 confirmed cases in the country, but public health officials say outbreak in Auckland is under control.
The Tonga Ministry of Health has also imposed a month long ban on making food for public gatherings such as funerals.
Chief Health Inspector Sela Fa'u, told Tonga Broadcasting five of those with typhoid were from one village, Veitongo.
Sela Fa'u said several factors had constrained the ministry in controlling the spread of the disease including people providing inaccurate information for lab tests.
-RNZI
